Analysis of the Patriots’ inactives for Sunday – WEEI.com
FOXBORO — The Patriots will be without quarterback Ryan Mallett, wide receiver Taylor Price, running back Shane Vereen, linebacker Gary Guyton, offensive lineman Ryan Wendell, offensive lineman Dan Koppen and defensive lineman Mike Wright for Sunday’s game against the Chargers.
While Mallett, Koppen and Wright are no surprise (Mallett is the No. 3 quarterback, while Koppen (fibula) and Wright (concussion) were out of practice all week because of injuries suffered in the season-opening win over Miami. In addition, Wendell (calf) and Price (hamstring) have been slowed by hamstring problems and have missed a sizable chunk of time as of later, while Guyton (hamstring) was limited all week. Meanwhile, rookie Vereen has struggled to see the field after suffering a hamstring injury of his own in the preseason.
With no Guyton, it will be interesting to see how the Patriots go about defending San Diego tight end Antonio Gates. The plus-sized Gates, who is fast but also too big for a safety to cover, had been shadowed by Guyton in the past. On Sunday, that role could fall to linebackers Dane Fletcher or A.J. Edds, or the biggest safety New England has in Josh Barrett.
With those seven on the sidelines, it appears that linebackers Brandon Spikes and Jermaine Cunningham and offensive lineman Sebastian Vollmer will all be making their 2011 debuts Sunday afternoon against the Chargers.